Remotely powered, multisite sensing system with a shared, two-wire bus for power and communication

ABSTRACT

A multisite sensing system including two or more analyte sensors, an interface device, and a shared bus. The interface device may be configured to receive a power signal and generate power for powering the analyte sensors and to convey data signals generated by the analyte sensors. The shared bus connected to the interface device and each of the analyte sensors and configured to provide the power generated by the interface device to the analyte sensors and to provide the data signals generated by the analyte sensors to the interface device. The interface device may be an inductive element. The shared bus may be a two wire, multiplexed bus. The analyte sensors may be spatially separated for analyte sensing at least two different locations. The analyte sensors may generate data signals indicative of the presence and/or amount of the same analyte or of one or more different analytes.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/105,596, which was filed on Aug. 20, 2018, and is a continuation ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/482,141, which was filed on Apr. 7,2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,102,178, and is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/594,674, which was filed on Jan. 12, 2015, nowU.S. Pat. No. 9,626,315, and claims the benefit of priority to U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/926,636, filed on Jan. 13, 2014, allof which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND Field of Invention

The present invention relates generally to a multisite sensing systemwith a shared bus. Specifically, the present invention may relate to aremotely powered, multisite sensing system with a shared, two-wire busfor power and communication.

Discussion of the Background

A conventional implantable analyte sensor may include a single analytesensing site and an antenna that is inductively coupled to an externaltransceiver and used solely with the single analyte sensing site. Such asensor, when implanted, may provide good telemetry coupling with anexternal transceiver that is worn on the outside of the skin directlyover the implanted sensor. However, the sensor only has one analytesensing site and is dependent upon having an antenna that can receivepower and commands from the external transceiver at the same location asthe sensing site. These requirements (i.e., only one sensing site andone antenna per sensing site) may limit the range of applications towhich the sensor may be applied. There is presently a need in the artfor a multisite sensing system.

SUMMARY

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of prior systems byproviding a multisite sensing system. The multisite sensing system mayprovide, among other advantages, multiple analyte sensing sites and asingle interface device (e.g., antenna) that is shared between themultiple sensing sites. The multiple sensing sites may include two ormore sensing sites that detect the same analyte (e.g., for secondary,tertiary, or more detection of the analyte) and/or one or more sensingsites that each detect an analyte different than the analyte(s) detectedby the other sensing site(s) (e.g., for detection of multiple analytes).In addition, in some embodiments, the multisite sensing system mayinclude a shared bus (e.g., a two wire interface), which may simplifythe overall assembly and form factor.

One aspect of the invention may provide a multisite sensing systemincluding two or more analyte sensors, an interface device, and a sharedbus. The interface device may be configured to receive a power signaland generate power for powering the two or more analyte sensors and toconvey data signals generated by the two or more analyte sensors. Theshared bus connected to the interface device and each of the two or moresensors and configured to provide the power generated by the interfacedevice to the two or more analyte sensors and to provide the datasignals generated by the two or more analyte sensors to the interfacedevice.

Further variations encompassed within the systems and methods aredescribed in the detailed description of the invention below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form partof the specification, illustrate various, non-limiting embodiments ofthe present invention. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicateidentical or functionally similar elements.

FIGURE is a schematic view illustrating a multisite sensing systemembodying aspects of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGURE is a schematic view of a multisite sensing system 105 embodyingaspects of the present invention. As illustrated in FIGURE, themultisite sensing system 105 may include a plurality of analyte sensors100, a system housing 104, and shared bus 109. In some non-limitingembodiments, the multisite sensing system 105 may be a fully implantablemultisite analyte sensing system. The multisite sensing system 105 maybe implanted in a living animal (e.g., a living human). The multisitesensing system 105 may be implanted, for example, in a living animal'sarm, wrist, leg, abdomen, peritoneum, intravenously, or other region ofthe living animal suitable for sensor implantation. For example, in onenon-limiting embodiment, the multisite sensing system 105 may beimplanted beneath the skin (i.e., in the subcutaneous or peritonealtissues). In some embodiments, the multisite sensing system 105 may beimplanted subcutaneously (e.g., in a location of the body that isappropriate for subcutaneous measurement of interstitial fluid glucose),and no portion of the sensor 100 protrudes from the skin. In somenon-limiting embodiments, the multisite sensing system 105 may becapable of being continuously implanted for at least 90 days or longerand may be replaced thereafter.

In some embodiments, the multisite sensing system 105 may include two ormore analyte sensors 100. For example, in the embodiment illustrated inFIGURE, the system 105 includes sensors 100A, 100B, and 100Z, but thesystem 105 may include any number of sensors 100 greater than or equalto two (e.g., two, three, four, five, ten, etc.). The analyte sensors100 may detect the presence, amount, and/or concentration of an analyte(e.g., glucose, oxygen, cardiac markers, low-density lipoprotein (LDL),high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or triglycerides). In some embodiments,two or more of the sensors 100 may detect the same analyte. In somenon-limiting embodiments where two or more of the sensors 100 detect thesame analyte, a voting scheme (e.g., taking an integrated average of themeasurements from the sensors detecting the same analyte and/ordiscounting a measurement that is significantly different than othermeasurements of the same analyte) may be used (e.g., by the transceiver101). In some embodiments, one or more of the sensors 100 may detect afirst analyte, and another one or more sensors 100 may detect a second,different analyte. In some embodiments, sensors 100 may additionallydetect third, fourth, and/or more different analytes. In someembodiments, the sensors 100 are spatially separated for analytedetection at multiple locations. In some non-limiting embodiments, theanalyte sensors 100 may be optical sensors (e.g., fluorometers). In someembodiments, the sensors 100 may be chemical or biochemical sensors.

The multisite sensing system 105 may communicate with an externaltransceiver 101. The transceiver 101 may be an electronic device thatcommunicates with the multisite sensing system 105 to power the sensors100 and/or receive measurement information (e.g., photodetector and/ortemperature sensor readings) from the sensors 100. The measurementinformation may include one or more readings from one or morephotodetectors of the sensors 100 and/or one or more readings from oneor more temperature sensors of the sensors 100. In some embodiments, thetransceiver 101 may calculate analyte concentrations from themeasurement information received from the sensor 100. However, it is notrequired that the transceiver 101 perform the analyte concentrationcalculations itself, and, in some alternative embodiments, thetransceiver 101 may instead convey/relay the measurement informationreceived from the sensor 100 to another device for calculation ofanalyte concentrations.

In some embodiments (e.g., embodiments in which the multisite sensingsystem 105 is a fully implantable multisite sensing system), thetransceiver 101 may implement a passive telemetry for communicating withthe implantable sensor 100 via an inductive magnetic link for both powerand data transfer. The multisite sensing system 105 may include aninductive element 114, which may be, for example, a ferrite basedmicro-antenna. In some embodiments, the inductive element 114 may beconnected to analyte detection circuitry. For example, in someembodiments, where the sensors 100 are optical sensors, the inductiveelement 114 may be connected to micro-fluorimeter circuitry (e.g., anapplication specification integrated circuit (ASIC)) and a relatedoptical detection system of the sensor 100. In some embodiments, thesensor 100 may not include a battery, and, as a result, the multisitesensing system 105 may rely on the transceiver 101 to provide power forthe sensors 100 and a data link to convey analyte-related data from thesensors 100 to transceiver 101.

In some non-limiting embodiments, the multisite sensing system 105 maybe a passive, fully implantable multisite sensing system having a smallsize. For a multisite sensing system 105 that is a fully implantablemultisite sensing system having no battery power source, the transceiver101 may provide energy to run the sensors 100 of the multisite sensingsystem 105 via a magnetic field. In some embodiments, the magnetictransceiver-sensing system link can be considered as “weakly coupledtransformer” type. The magnetic transceiver-sensing system link mayprovide energy and a link for data transfer using amplitude modulation(AM). Although in some embodiments, data transfer is carried out usingAM, in alternative embodiments, other types of modulation may be used.The magnetic transceiver-sensor link may have a low efficiency of powertransfer and, therefore, may require relatively high power amplifier toenergize the sensors 100 of the multisite sensing system 105 at longerdistances. In some non-limiting embodiments, the transceiver 101 andmultisite sensing system 105 may communicate using near fieldcommunication (e.g., at a frequency of 13.56 MHz, which can achieve highpenetration through the skin and is a medically approved frequency band)for power transfer. However, this is not required, and, in otherembodiments, different frequencies may be used for powering andcommunicating with the sensor 100.

In some embodiments, as illustrated in FIGURE, the transceiver 101 mayinclude an inductive element 103, such as, for example, a coil. Thetransceiver 101 may generate an electromagnetic wave or electrodynamicfield (e.g., by using a coil) to induce a current in an inductiveelement 114 of the multisite sensing system 105, which powers thesensors 100. The transceiver 101 may also convey data (e.g., commands)to the sensors 100 of the multisite sensing system 105. For example, ina non-limiting embodiment, the transceiver 101 may convey data bymodulating the electromagnetic wave used to power the sensors 100 (e.g.,by modulating the current flowing through a coil 103 of the transceiver101). The modulation in the electromagnetic wave generated by thetransceiver 101 may be detected/extracted by the sensors 100. Moreover,the transceiver 101 may receive data (e.g., measurement information)from the sensors 100 of the multisite sensing system 105. For example,in a non-limiting embodiment, the transceiver 101 may receive data bydetecting modulations in the electromagnetic wave generated by one ormore of the sensors 100, e.g., by detecting modulations in the currentflowing through the coil 103 of the transceiver 101.

The inductive element 103 of the transceiver 101 and the inductiveelement 114 of the multisite sensing system 105 may be in anyconfiguration that permits adequate field strength to be achieved whenthe two inductive elements are brought within adequate physicalproximity.

In some embodiments, the multisite sensing system 105 includes a sharedbus 109 connected to the inductive element 114 and to each of thesensors 100. In some non-limiting embodiments, the bus 109 may be amultiplexed bus. In some non-limiting embodiments, the bus 109 may be atwo wire, multiplexed bus. For example, in one non-limiting embodiment,the shared bus 109 may consist of two wires connected to the inductiveelement 114. A first wire of the shared bus 109 may be connected to afirst end of the inductive element 114 and to a first input/output port(e.g., a pin) of each of the sensors 100, and a second wire of theshared bus 109 may be connected to a second end of the inductive element114 and to a second input/output port (e.g., a pin) of each of thesensors 100. In some non-limiting embodiments, the first and secondinput/output ports may be resonant nodes of an LC tank circuit. In someembodiments, the shared bus 109 delivers the power generated by theinductive element 114 to each of the sensors 100. In some embodiments,the connection of the shared bus 109 to the inductive element 114facilitates data communication between the sensors 100 and thetransceiver 101.

In some non-limiting embodiments, multiplexing may be performed usingaddress mode communication features of the sensors 100 (e.g., addressmode communication features of bus interface circuitry included in thecircuit components 111 of the sensors 100). In some embodiments,measurement commands conveyed by the inductive element 103 of thetransceiver 101 (e.g., by modulating the electromagnetic wave) mayinclude an address (e.g., a unique sensor ID) identifying a particularone of the sensors 100, and the address mode communication features ofthe sensors 100 may extract the address in the conveyed measurementcommands. In some embodiments, only the sensor 100 to which themeasurement command is addressed (e.g., only the sensor 100 whose uniqueID matches the unique ID included in the measurement command) performs ameasurement and provides a response through the passive interface (e.g.,by modulating in the electromagnetic wave). In this way, sensors 100connected to the shared bus 109 may operate in a multiplexed fashion.Although one example for multiplexed operation of the sensors 100 isprovided above, alternative embodiments may achieve multiplexed sensoroperation in one or more different fashions. For example, in somealternative embodiments, the sensors 100 may be configured to use ananti-collision algorithm for multiplexing the response on the sharedantenna 114. In some non-limiting embodiments, the two wires of theshared bus 109 may enable the single inductive element 114 (e.g., asingle antenna) to interface with multiple sensors 100, which may bespatially separated for analyte detection/transduction at multiplelocations.

In some non-limiting embodiments, as illustrated in FIGURE, the sensors100, shared bus 109, and inductive element 114 may be encased in asystem housing 104 (i.e., body, shell, capsule, or encasement), whichmay be rigid and biocompatible. In one non-limiting embodiment, thesystem housing 104 may be a silicon tube. However, this is not required,and, in other embodiments, different materials and/or shapes may be usedfor the system housing 104.

The sensors 100 may include a transmissive optical cavity 102. In somenon-limiting embodiments, the transmissive optical cavity 102 may beformed from a suitable, optically transmissive polymer material, suchas, for example, acrylic polymers (e.g., polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)).However, this is not required, and, in other embodiments, differentmaterials may be used for the transmissive optical cavity 102.

In some embodiments, the sensors 100 may include an analyte indicatorelement 106, such as, for example, a polymer graft coated, diffused,adhered, or embedded on or in at least a portion of the exterior surfaceof the system housing 104. The analyte indicator element 106 (e.g.,polymer graft) of the sensor 100 may include indicator molecules (e.g.,fluorescent indicator molecules) exhibiting one or more detectableproperties (e.g., optical properties) based on the amount orconcentration of the analyte in proximity to the analyte indicatorelement. In some embodiments, the sensors 100 may include a light source108 that emits excitation light 329 over a range of wavelengths thatinteract with the indicator molecules in the analyte indicator element106. The sensors 100 may also include one or more photodetectors 224,226 (e.g., photodiodes, phototransistors, photoresistors, or otherphotosensitive elements). The one or more photodetectors (e.g.,photodetector 224) may be sensitive to emission light 331 (e.g.,fluorescent light) emitted by the indicator molecules of the analyteindicator element 106 such that a signal generated by a photodetector(e.g., photodetector 224) in response thereto that is indicative of thelevel of emission light 331 of the indicator molecules and, thus, theamount of analyte of interest (e.g., glucose). In some non-limitingembodiments, one or more of the photodetectors (e.g., photodetector 226)may be sensitive to excitation light 329 that is reflected from theanalyte indicator element 106. In some non-limiting embodiments, one ormore of the photodetectors may be covered by one or more filters thatallow only a certain subset of wavelengths of light to pass through(e.g., a subset of wavelengths corresponding to emission light 331 or asubset of wavelengths corresponding to reflected excitation light) andreflect the remaining wavelengths. In some non-limiting embodiments, thesensors 100 may include a temperature transducer. In some non-limitingembodiments, the multisite sensing system 105 may include a drug-elutingpolymer matrix that disperses one or more therapeutic agents (e.g., ananti-inflammatory drug).

In some embodiments, the sensors 100 may include circuit components 111.In some non-limiting embodiments, the circuit components 111 may includea bus interface, optical interface, temperature sensor,analog-to-digital converter, and/or signal conditioning circuitry. Insome non-limiting embodiments, the bus interface may perform the addressmode communication described above. In some of these address modecommunication embodiments, all of the sensors 100 may receive ameasurement command, and only the sensor 100 to which the measurementcommand is addressed responds to the measurement command via the bus 109and shared inductive element 114.

In some embodiments, the sensors 100 may include a substrate. In someembodiments, the substrate may be a circuit board (e.g., a printedcircuit board (PCB) or flexible PCB) on which one or more of circuitcomponents 111 (e.g., analog and/or digital circuit components) may bemounted or otherwise attached. However, in some alternative embodiments,the substrate may be a semiconductor substrate having one or more of thecircuit components 111 fabricated therein. For instance, the fabricatedcircuit components may include analog and/or digital circuitry. Also, insome semiconductor substrate embodiments, in addition to the circuitcomponents fabricated in the semiconductor substrate, circuit componentsmay be mounted or otherwise attached to the semiconductor substrate. Inother words, in some semiconductor substrate embodiments, a portion orall of the circuit components 111, which may include discrete circuitelements, an integrated circuit (e.g., an application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC)) and/or other electronic components (e.g., anon-volatile memory), may be fabricated in the semiconductor substratewith the remainder of the circuit components 111 is secured to thesemiconductor substrate, which may provide communication paths betweenthe various secured components.

In some embodiments, the one or more of the analyte indicator element106, light source 108, photodetectors 224, 226, circuit components 111,and substrate of the sensors 100 may include some or all of the featuresdescribed in one or more of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/761,839, filedon Feb. 7, 2013, U.S. application Ser. No. 13/937,871, filed on Jul. 9,2013, U.S. application Ser. No. 13/650,016, filed on Oct. 11, 2012, andU.S. application Ser. No. 14/142,017, filed on Dec. 27, 2013, all ofwhich are incorporated by reference in their entireties. Similarly, thestructure, function, and/or features of the system housing 104, sensors100, and/or transceiver 101 may be as described in one or more of U.S.application Ser. Nos. 13/761,839, 13/937,871, 13/650,016, and14/142,017. For instance, the system housing 104 may have one or morehydrophobic, hydrophilic, opaque, and/or immune response blockingmembranes or layers on the exterior thereof.

Although in some embodiments, as illustrated in FIGURE, the sensors 100may be an optical sensors, this is not required, and, in one or morealternative embodiments, sensors 100 may be a different types of analytesensors, such as, for example, diffusion sensors or pressure sensors.Also, although in some embodiments, as illustrated in FIGURE, themultisite sensing system 105 may be a fully implantable sensing system,this is not required, and, in some alternative embodiments, themultisite sensing system 105 may be a transcutaneous sensing systemhaving a wired connection to the transceiver 101. For example, in somealternative embodiments, the sensing system 105 may be located in or ona transcutaneous needle (e.g., at the tip thereof). In theseembodiments, instead of wirelessly communicating using inductiveelements 103 and 114, the multisite sensing system 105 and transceiver101 may communicate using one or more wires connected between thetransceiver 101 and the transceiver transcutaneous needle that includesthe multisite sensing system 105. For another example, in somealternative embodiments, the multisite sensing system 105 may be locatedin a catheter (e.g., for intravenous blood glucose monitoring) and maycommunicate (wirelessly or using wires) with the transceiver 101.

In some embodiments, the multisite sensing system 105 may include atransceiver interface device. In some embodiments where the multisitesensing system 105 includes an antenna (e.g., inductive element 114),the transceiver interface device may include the antenna (e.g.,inductive element 114) of multisite sensing system 105. In some of thetranscutaneous embodiments where there exists a wired connection betweenthe multisite sensing system 105 and the transceiver 101, thetransceiver interface device may include the wired connection.

Embodiments of the present invention have been fully described abovewith reference to the drawing FIGURES. Although the invention has beendescribed based upon these preferred embodiments, it would be apparentto those of skill in the art that certain modifications, variations, andalternative constructions could be made to the described embodimentswithin the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A sensing system comprising: a first sensorconfigured to generate a first data signal; a second sensor configuredto generate a second data signal, wherein the first and second sensorare spatially separated; an interface device configured to convey thefirst and second data signals to a transceiver external to the sensingsystem; and a shared bus (a) connected to the interface device, thefirst sensor, and the second sensor and (b) configured to provide thefirst and second data signals from the first and second sensors to theinterface device.
 2. The sensing system of claim 1, wherein the sharedbus is a multiplexed bus.
 3. The sensing system of claim 1, furthercomprising a third sensor configured to generate a third data signal,wherein the first, second, and third sensors are spatially separated. 4.The sensing system of claim 1, wherein the interface device is aninductive element.
 5. The sensing system of claim 1, wherein the firstsensor comprises a light source and a light detector.
 6. The sensingsystem of claim 1, wherein first sensor comprises a substrate and one ormore circuit components fabricated in or mounted on the substrate. 7.The sensing system of claim 1, further comprising a housing containingthe first and second sensors, shared bus, and interface device.
 8. Thesensing system of claim 7, wherein the first sensor comprises a firstanalyte indicator embedded within and/or covering at least a firstportion of the housing, the second sensor comprises a second analyteindicator embedded within and/or covering at least a second portion ofthe housing, and the first and second portions of the housing areseparate portions of the housing.
 9. The sensing system of claim 1,wherein the shared bus consists of two wires each connected to theinterface device, the first sensor, and the second sensor.
 10. Thesensing system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor comprises a firstanalog-to-digital converter, and the second sensor comprises a secondanalog-to-digital converter.
 11. The sensing system of claim 1, whereinthe shared bus comprises two wires each connected to the interfacedevice, the first sensor, and the second sensor.
 12. A methodcomprising: using a first sensor of a sensing system to generate a firstdata signal; using a second sensor of the sensing system to generate asecond data signal, wherein the second sensor and the first sensor arespatially separated; using a shared bus of the sensing system to providethe first and second data signals from the first and second sensors toan interface device of the sensing system, wherein the shared bus isconnected to the interface device, the first sensor, and the secondsensor; and using the interface device to convey the first and seconddata signals to a transceiver external to the sensing system.
 13. Themethod of claim 12, further comprising using a third sensor of thesensing system to generate a third data signal, wherein the first,second, and third sensors are spatially separated.
 14. A methodcomprising: using two wires of a shared bus of a sensing system toprovide data signals generated by two or more analyte sensors of thesensing system to an interface device of the sensing system, wherein theshared bus is connected to the interface device and each of the two ormore analyte sensors; and using an interface device to convey datasignals generated by the two or more analyte sensors.
 15. A methodcomprising: using an interface device of a sensing system to receive acommand from a transceiver external to the sensing system, wherein thecommand includes an address; using a shared bus of the sensing system toprovide the command received by the interface device to first and secondsensors of the sensing system, wherein the shared bus is connected tothe interface device, the first sensor, and the second sensor; using thefirst sensor of the sensing system to extract the address from thecommand, determine that the extracted address matches a first address,and generate a response to the command; using the second sensor of thesensing system to extract the address from the command, determine thatthe extracted address does not match a second address, and not provide aresponse to the command, wherein the first address is different than thesecond address; using the shared bus to provide the response generatedby the first sensor to the interface device; and using the interfacedevice to convey the response generated by the first sensor to thetransceiver.
 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: using theinterface device to receive another command from the transceiverexternal to the sensing system, wherein the command includes anotheraddress; using the shared bus to provide the other command received bythe interface device to the first and second sensors; using the firstsensor to extract the other address from the other command, determinethat the extracted other address does not match the first address, andnot provide a response to the other command; using the second sensor toextract the other address from the other command, determine that theextracted other address matches the second address, and generate aresponse to the other command; using the shared bus to provide theresponse generated by the second sensor to the interface device; andusing the interface device to convey the response generated by thesecond sensor to the transceiver.
 17. The method of claim 15, furthercomprising: using the interface device to receive power from thetransceiver and generate a current; and using the shared bus to providethe current generated by the interface device to the first and secondsensors; wherein the first analyte sensor and the second analyte sensorextract the address from modulations in the current generated by theinterface device, and the first and second sensors are powered by thecurrent generated by the interface device.
 18. The method of claim 15,wherein the shared bus consists of two wires each connected to theinterface device, the first sensor, and the second sensor.
 19. Themethod of claim 15, wherein the shared bus comprises two wires eachconnected to the interface device, the first sensor, and the secondsensor.